title: A mild acute hemolytic transfusion reaction in a patient with alloanti-Ge3: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical significance of the Gerbich antibodies has been described as variable and there are no well-documented reports of hemolytic transfusion reactions (HTRs).
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a woman with a long history of documented anti-Ge3 alloantibody who received multiple units of Ge+ red blood cells (RBCs) uneventfully. During the first admission to our hospital she was transfused 8 units of Ge+ RBCs and had a negative monocyte monolayer assay (MMA) before receiving the units. Within 2 weeks of the transfusions, the anti-Ge3 became significantly stronger by indirect antiglobulin test, and the MMA increased from 2.2 to 79.5% reactivity. She returned 4.5 years later with an emergent need for blood and was transfused with 2 units of Ge+ RBCs after premedication with steroids and intravenous immunoglobulin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first unit was transfused without incident; however, she developed clinical and laboratory signs consistent with an acute HTR with the second unit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After a comprehensive review of the literature, we believe this to be the first well-documented case of acute HTR due to anti-Gerbich alloantibodies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0960, USA.
authors.forename: Mariah R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Baughn
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Whitacre
authors.forename: Grace S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Suchitra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Lane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006021:Glycophorins / Q000276:immunology*; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D006021:Glycophorins; D007518:Isoantibodies